The Great Campervan Adventure

Have Any Tips on Australia?

Our trip planning is a work in progress. We’d love your recommendations on towns, excursions, restaurants, lodging, or anything you think would be helpful during our stay in Australia.

Please post any ideas in the “Add New Comment” section below, or email us at [email protected]

http://twitter.com/ACoupleTraveler A Couple Travelers

Australia is absolutely gorgeous. I lived there for 5 years when I was younger and interned in Sydney for a summer during college. I’d say definitely take a day trip out to the blue mountains and do some bush walking!

http://HoneyTrek.com/ Mike Howard – HoneyTrek.com

the blue mountains, eh. cool. what city are they near? have any photos online from your journey?

http://www.facebook.com/amanda.summons Amanda Summons

Blue Mountains are near Sydney and are awesome!

http://HoneyTrek.com/ Mike Howard – HoneyTrek.com

sounds like a must see then.

http://HoneyTrek.com/ Mike Howard – HoneyTrek.com

COMMENT FROM A FRIEND (COLIN):

“Australia – Go in there summer or spring. No winter….Its gotten a lot more expensive since I was there in 2008. But you can bus or train it everywhere. Its cheap to take domestic flights. No need for a car. Carrins – great barrier reef. go scuba diving but watch out for the jelly fish, go sky diving. Whit sundays- go sailing. Brisbane – might be still messed up from the floods. Sunshine Coast (noosa heads) Gold Coast is the best dude. Byron Bay – Go sky diving, awesome travel town. Sydney is cool but its like a city. I’ve heard good things about Melbourne. I have a couple friends who live there so let me know if u make it.”

Toby

If you manage to hit just the right time between wet and dry season around May, when the water is pulling back, but not gone completely, go for the walks in El Questro (50km into the Gibb River Road at the Kununurra side). Some walks are along a riverbed, and will be part walking, part swimming and part climbing up waterfalls! The resort (even the campground) is somewhat expensive though. Always take the croc warning signs serious though!

Another favorite of use was to stay at one of the very basic campgrounds in Cape Range National Park and chat with the owners and other odd travelers (most people were way older than us (we have your age), but that made it interesting! You have to reserve a spot in Exmouth. We stayed at Ned’s Camp.

If you like to do tours and also cover some distance at the same time, I can recommend the 10 day tour from Adelaide to Alice springs, which takes you right into the Australian Outback! You won’t have much comfort, but who cares… If you head the other way, they offer cheap return trips (no tour, just driving).

If you have to limit your time in Australia though, I would think that the Northwestern and Western parts and the region around Darwin would suit you best (as far as I can tell from reaing your blog).

Toby

Oh, and a good indicator about when it’s “the right time” is when they open the Gibb River Road for traffic after the wet season. We were a bit early, the road was still closed, so we went to the bungle bungles first. Also well worth, but you’ll need a 4×4. Which comes in handy in all of West and North Australia anyway.

http://HoneyTrek.com/ Mike Howard – HoneyTrek.com

thanks for the tips Toby! we will check the road schedule, how do you check such a thing?

http://HoneyTrek.com/ Mike Howard – HoneyTrek.com

Toby, thanks for all those solid tips. We might be in Australia right around that may timeframe as well. We will check out a map and try to plot out course. Did you take any internal flights? Or all buses?

No buses or flights. Car between Sydney and Adelaide (4 weeks), tour between Adelaide and Alice Springs, train (The Ghan) between Alice and Darwin (that was an interesting experience!), car between Darwin and Perth (6 weeks).

http://HoneyTrek.com/ Mike Howard – HoneyTrek.com

the train between alice and darwin was fun you say? crazy expensive?

Eleanor

Come to Canberra! Practically all attractions are free and it is beautiful!!!

http://www.HoneyTrek.com/ HoneyTrek Anne

Eleanor, thanks for your tips! We finally made it to Australia and are rolling out our adventures starting tomorrow! We hope you can come along for the ride!

Graham

If you come to Brisbane check out South bank. There is a large artificial beach with lots of restaurants, bars and live music surrounding it. Its also on the river so has some great views of the city and beautiful paths with lots of gardens to walk along. There is also a performing arts centre, museums (including a maritime museum) markets and lots of events there every week. Hope you enjoy your stay in Australia! It’s great what you are doing!

http://www.HoneyTrek.com/ Mike Howard – HoneyTrek.com

Thanks so much, Graham! We didn’t quite make it to Brisbane but loved our time in Sydney, Cairns & our 4-day liveaboard scuba to Lizard island, camping in Daintree, and exploring the NT with trips through Kakadu, Katherine Gorge and Darwin. We’ve been a bit delayed but our Australia blogs begin in two weeks; we’d love to hear your thoughts when they hit the web!